EU Parliament Chief Denounces Bahrain Death Verdict

TEHRAN, April 28 (ICANA) – The President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek on Thursday 'strongly condemned' the death sentences passed against four Bahraini protesters.

Thursday, April 28, 2011 10:28:18 PM

"I condemn the sentencing to death of the four protesters in Bahrain and I call for their sentences to be reviewed. The fact that the trial took place behind closed doors is deplorable," Buzek said in a statement.

He urged the Bahraini government and other parties 'to engage in a meaningful and constructive dialogue without delay or preconditions, in order to bring about reforms.'

A Bahraini military court on Thursday sentenced four protesters to death and three to life imprisonment for allegedly killing of two police officers, in a trial which triggered condemnation from international human rights organizations.

Numerous rights groups condemned the trial as unjust, saying the defendants were allowed only limited access to legal counsel and trial proceedings.

The seven had pleaded 'not guilty,' but pre-recorded confessions were aired on state television after the verdict was announced.

Dozens of Bahraini protesters have been killed in government crackdowns which included also the use of live ammunition, human rights activists say.

Hundreds of people had been arrested, and hundreds more were fired from their jobs for participating in pro-democracy demonstrations against the Bahraini regime which began in mid-February.

Violence escalated further last month after Saudi troops were deployed in the small Persian Gulf kingdom and a state of emergency was declared to help suppress the unrest.

The state of emergency bans all public meetings and permits arbitrary arrests and the trial of civilians in military courts.